Project Württemberg in action! 28mm Black Powder

This month's Big Battle Sunday saw the first of our Napoleonic games, featuring Tony, Karl and Andrew's Russians against Paul's French and my Württembergers. This was the first outing of a group project floated back in 2022. I finished my Württemberg light brigade over two years ago and decided not to put myself through the agony of painting more until they had a few battles under their belts. And here we are!

Thanks to Karl, there is even a rare photograph showing that I exist!

Very much the minor nation, I only had a single brigade on the table; Paul had four French brigades. Facing us were four Russian Brigades under Karl and Tony, with Andrew's large Russian brigade coming on half-way through the battle.

Somewhere approaching Russia, c.1812. The thin green line of Württembergers, supported by French cuirassiers and dragoons hold the allied right flank.

The left flank composed of French (and Italian) infantry.

Generalmajor von Bruxelles encourages the Württembergers forward in light infantry mixed formations. The lads from Württemberg maintained the same formation almost to the end under vigorous (if ill-aimed) Russian musketry and artillery fire. In return, they peppered the Russian infantry with rifle and, later, musket fire, causing much disorder and holding two Russian brigades in place.

On the opposite flank, the French marched forwards with great alacrity and joie de vivre, causing havoc among their outnumbered opponents. It was then that Andrew's Russian reinforcements arrived on the allied left flank, causing the small French cavalry and Guard brigades in reserve to swing into action.

Back on the right flank, von Bruxelles managed to rally his boys and keep them in relatively good order. Russian dragoons probed the line, looking for a weak point, but found the Württemberg light infantry just a difficult to crack in square as any unit Napoleon could put in the field.

In the end, the faltering dragoon charge was symptomatic of the mood across the battlefield. While the Württembergers, Imperial Guard and French cavalry held firm, the two brigades of French line infantry both broke. Likewise, two brigades of Russians broke while three held on doggedly. 

As evening fell upon the battle, those who saw it could only call it a bloody draw. Back in the ballrooms of St Petersburg, Paris and Stuttgart, I'm sure everyone toasted the glorious victory of their gallant soldiery!